By Monica Pryts
The Humane Society of Mercer County is investigating a couple of cases of suspected animal cruelty against two dogs.
A mixed breed puppy was abandoned in a Sharon alley with a broken front leg and a pug was found in Mercer, emaciated and suffering from severe skin irritation from flea infestation, said Sandi Drabick, the Humane Society’s executive director.
She refrained from giving more specifics about the animals, like gender, because anyone who calls about the dogs will have to give identifying details.
Mrs. Drabick and humane agents believe that the dogs were someone’s pets because they both had collars, the pug had been fixed and they just didn’t seem like “common strays.”
“That puppy was left in the alley to suffer,” Mrs. Drabick said.
The puppy had surgery to repair its broken leg and a local veterinarian believes the injury wasn’t caused by something like a car accident.
The puppy is still recovering at the veterinarian’s office and will need follow-up visits because it’s young and still growing, Mrs. Drabick said.
When the puppy is discharged, the Humane Society will put it in foster care until it has a full recovery, the original owner is located or a better home is found.
The Humane Society is also seeking donations to help with the puppy’s veterinarian costs.
The pug was found on someone’s doorstep, apparently dropped off on the side of the road, malnourished, underweight and infested with fleas.
“There’s no doubt it was dumped,” Mrs. Drabick said.
The pug has since improved with veterinarian care and gained more weight and was adopted out to a loving home.
“They just love her to death,” she said.
The Humane Society has no tips or leads on the dogs and hopes to hear from anyone who recognizes them or knows who owned them.
Mrs. Drabick couldn’t guess why someone would hurt or abandon their pet, but they need to be held responsible.
Animal cruelty is more common in Mercer County than some people realize and the Humane Society is out to stop it, she said.
Anyone convicted of animal cruelty could pay restitution for veterinary care, be fined or serve jail time.
There have been two animal cruelty cases in Mercer County in recent years where jail time was part of the punishment, Mrs. Drabick said.
Call the Humane Society of Mercer County at 724-981-5445 with any information on the dogs and send donations to the agency at P.O. Box 1046, Hermitage, PA 16148.
